| Kings Not Having Any Fun Yet Authored by Bob Souza - April 27, 2005 - 1:14 pm
Letting Seattle win the first two games of this series to create interest probably wasn’t part of coach Rick Adelman’s pre-game spiel. But who knows, maybe that’s the way his troops heard it.
Another erratic shooting performance was one of many noticeable characteristics in the Kings’ 105-93 loss to the Sonics. They appear to have ditched their playoff experience, and the tiny item about winning on the road.
Wild, crazy shots seem to have become the prevailing element of the offense. No pass is considered too difficult to attempt. Rebounds are way too much trouble --let someone else get them. Defense? You’ve got to be kidding. That’s how people get hurt.
Having Brad Miller, Bobby Jackson and Greg Ostertag back in the mix has apparently disrupted the flow and added to the confusion. There’s your best excuse. Run with it.
Fortunately, it requires 4 wins to advance. Taking care of business at home now becomes a necessity, as does grabbing at least one game in the Emerald City. Certainly doable, but it for sure ain’t gonna be easy.
Game one was definitely there for the taking, only it was the Sonics who figured they might as well take it. Thank you very much. And such a nice time for Jackson and Mike Bibby to go a combined one for twenty-three. Did anybody see that perversion coming?
So for game two, it was Peja Stojakovic and Cuttino Mobley hoisting up the bricks, going 7-23 together. Not that it was going to make any real difference. There were just too many blemishes in the Kings’ makeup.
And this James guy has been a colossal pain. Just what we all needed: A former King on a mission to “show” his old team the mistake they made by releasing him. Why now? Doesn’t he know revenge is never that sweet?
Oh yeah… maybe it is.
All he did was make his first 7 shots on the way to 19 points and 9 boards. Later, he carped, “My motto this year is ‘There’s no food in the freezer, and I gotta eat now.’”
Well, he certainly got his belly full.
Adelman is taking heat for not going back to his starters, after his bench sliced a 26-point deficit down to eight late in the game. Let’s be serious – who could blame him? Replace the group playing well with the group that was stinking it up? Don’t think so, even if they were getting tired. We’d seen the first act, and it was frightful.
"They weren't going back in," he snarled. "I mean, why should I? That other group was doing all the work."
It wasn’t just a matter of missing a few shots here and there. Like… put us in coach and we’ll behave this time. We promise.
No.
Every facet of their game was in woeful disrepair, and it was not logical to expect it to come together before the final buzzer. The Sonics would not have let it. They came into the game prepared for the first unit. Well prepared.
"I don't know what happened to us," Stojakovic said. "No defense, no offense. ... We need to go home and play with a lot more energy and passion."
Gee… ya think?
Even the Kings’ owners, the Maloofs, had a tough night. Leaving the game early, they were taunted by Sonic fans and had to beef up their security on the way out. Ah, the life of a rich owner -- everybody thinks it’s so easy.
With a rollicking, packed Arco Arena for the next two, things may turn decidedly different. Those furious fans will get their chance to don their “Best 6th Man” party hats, and spur their team to a fun-filled victory dance.
But only if the players are listening. |
